By RODNEY HO/ rho@ajc.com, originally filed Tuesday, October 6, 2015
"Good Day Atlanta" executive producer Sidmel Estes passed away suddenly and the Fox 5 family is mourning.
I haven't been able to ascertain why she died.
Estes worked at WAGA-TV for 27 years (part of the time as a CBS affiliate, then Fox 5 starting in the mid-1990s) and was executive producer with "Good Day Atlanta" from 1993 to 2006. She left a major mark on journalism in Atlanta. She started the Atlanta chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and was the first woman to head the national group.
Everyone I contacted who had worked with her at Fox 5 (WAGA-TV) couldn't say enough about her passionate, supportive nature in what is often a very stressful environment.
Bud Veazey, a long-time assistant program director at WAGA from 1988 to 2008, considered "Good Day Atlanta" to be "Sidmel's baby." "Her strong maternal commitment to the program and her leadership in 'Good Day Atlanta's' infancy helped make it one of the most successful local morning shows in the country."
"Her vision and her talents helped make 'GDA' a morning juggernaut that was imitated by other morning shows across the country," texted Brett Martin, a former "Good Day" "Road Warrior" who worked with her for several years at the station. "She touched everyone she came in contact with and will be missed very much. A talented executive producer, a wonderful mother and a beautiful all-around person. And she gave the best hugs too!'
Mark Hayes, a co-host at "Good Day" from 2002 to 2012 and is now in Dallas, wrote me via Facebook:
She was incredibly passionate about her show and her pursuit of news and storytelling. She pushed us to be energetic and passionate in our delivery and in the types of stories we told....she also was a champion for the under dog and would push for stories that sometimes may not have been the most popular, but she had the vision would make it work and did so for many years. Her courage and tenacity will be missed. and her loving spirit will be missed as well--we called ourselves a family in the morning and we treated each other as such and cared about each other as such...and all our morning show colleagues would probably agree with me on that!
Gustavo Valdes, a photojournalist at Fox 5 from 1995 to 2009 and is now at CNN, wrote that she was "very supportive, very nice. I don't remember ever having a disagreement and she always backed me when I had a crazy idea."
Meteorologist Paul Ossmann, who worked at WAGA for 23 years from 1988 to 2011 and is now at CBS46, in a text called her a great "non panic producer and a great talent producer." And best of all: "Great laugh."
A friend on Facebook Ce Cole Dillon wrote:
Sid was wicked smart and funny. When it came to telling stories, it was like she could see through walls. She always seemed to be two steps ahead of everyone else in terms of figuring out where "nut" of the story was. And she was the consummate teacher of how to write or tell a story.
I never had the pleasure to meet her in person, but spoke to her on the phone a couple of times. She struck me a sweet, empathetic and honorable.
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Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
"Gilmore Girls" fans have been able to watch repeats for years on ABC Family.
Now Atlanta-based UP TV has nabbed the rights to all 153 episodes which aired on the WB (and briefly, the CW) from 2000 to 2007. It began airing on the the network Sunday. It fits the uplifting programming on the network but the show also brings a sly wit to it and its signature quick-paced rapport between characters.
Recently, the show was also added to Netflix, which means Lorelai and Rory are now accessible to a younger crowd that barely watches traditional TV.
Amy Winter, evp and general manager, UP, said, "We are so excited that the fabulous, fast talking 'Gilmore Girls' are here on UP. This hugely popular show where this mother and daughter navigate career, work, relationships and all of the challenges of life is a great addition to our brand of family entertainment. It's a highly entertaining series that depicts a family dealing with the very real stresses, challenges and joys of everyday life with heart and humor. Our viewers are going to get much more of this critically acclaimed series as we enhance each airing with stunts that feature never before seen footage and interviews with the show's biggest fans – the "Gilmore Guys," the podcasters who know every detail of the series. We've got much, much more Gilmore on UP."
This is one of my favorite shows from that era so I'm happy to see its resurgence.
***
Credit: Rodney Ho
Credit: Rodney Ho
There have been no shortage of studies that show TV isn't terribly good for us. But it's not all bad.
The authors of one study published in Psychology of Aesthetics, Creativity, and the Arts said watching high-quality television dramas such as "Mad Men" or "The West Wing" improves your emotional intelligence and makes you more empathetic.
They basically had one group of people watch "quality" TV and another group watch science shows. Those who watched the likes of Don Draper were able to read emotions better immediately afterwards. It's not clear if this is a long-lasting effect or not.
I wonder if people would feel more empathetic after watching "Real Housewives of Atlanta" or "Love and Hip Hop Atlanta"?
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